Sliding caster



cHAcH-r SLIDINGQASTER APril 1933.

Filed Oct. 28, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 11, 1933. c. A. SCHACZHT SLIDING CASTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 28 1931 Patented Apr. 11, 1933 CLIFFORD .Aa-SGHACHT, OF HUNTINGTON,IINDIANA' sLIDI Ne CASTER Application filed Oetober28, 1931'. Serial No. 571,633.

This invention. is a novel improvement in slidingcasters or glides for furniture. The principalobject of the invention is to produce a very simple-easily applied caster or glide composed ofapreferably circular shell having upturned outer'edges and a'central upwardly projecting portion of less height than the peripheral portions of theshell;

, and an attaching member, preferably a screw,-adapted to fasten the shell to the .leg

. of the table or chair and having a headon its lowerend fitted in the recess, formed by the said projecting portion of the shell, and an annular groove just above the head engaged with the upper end of the said inwardly projec'ting; portion so as to practically-permanently but rotatably connectthe shell to the attaching member. v

Another object is to provide the upper end of the central upwardly projectingportion of the shell with integral spring tongues which will. readily engage the annular groove in. the attaching member when the'latter, is

. inserted in the shell and secure said member to the shell. Y 1

A further object is to providean elastic cushioning member in theshell, wherebyv the weight of. the-furniture may beyieldably supported on the shell.

Another object isto provide such a caster with .an-elastic cushioning member parts of which. project through the shell intocontact with the surface on whichthe slider rests, so as to render the caster noiseless.

In the accompanying drawings Ihave illustrated several practicalconstructions of slidersembodying the invention but varying in specific features; and will explain the invention with reference to said drawings to enable others to adopt and use the same.

In the claims the various novel features and combinations for whi.ch'protection is desired are concisely stated.

' In the drawings:

F' g. 1 is a sectional view of a simple form of slider embodying the invention attached tothe leg of an article of furniture;

Fig. 2 is a sectionalview showing a variant of'the slider shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a planview ofthe-slider shown in Fig. 2 showing the attaching member in section at the point of its connection with the shell. p v 1 Fig. lis a sectional'view of a sliderwith a small elastic cushion fastened on theattaching member.

Fig. 5 is aview showing seated in the shell.

Fig. 6 shows a variant of the elastic cushion. I

'Fig. 7 is a detail section on the line '77, Fig.3. i r

Fig; 8 is a sectional view of ant of the/elastic cushion.

Fig. 9*is a plan view of the slider shown in Fig.8 detached:

Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing a construction wherein the rubber cushion projects through an opening in the bottom of the shell and renders the same noiseless.

Fig. 11 is a'bottom' plan view of the slider shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 10 showing a variant of the construction. I

Fig. 13 is a plan'view ofthe slidershown in Fig. 12. i

The shell or base 1 of the slider isp'referably stamped out of sheet'metal, in'the form of an approximately circular disk 'having'a peripheral external concavo convex flange'2, and an upwardly extending cone-like projection 3 at its center of less height than the flange 2. This projection forms an approximately conical recess on the underside of the shell, and an approximately conical projection inside the shell. 7

Preferably theapex of the projection 3 is radially slitted as at 3 the portions between the'slits forming tongues 3 which are adapted to engage" an annular groove 5 in the attaching member5 when the latter is properly engaged with the shell, as shown.

The attaching member 5 may bela screw or nail 'or pin or bolt adapted to be entered into the lower end of the legL of a table or other piece of furniture. Preferably I employ a screw that can be readily fastened to the leg. Asshown the attaching'member 5 has a head 5 and threaded shank and an annular groovefi in the shankclose of the head.

an elastic cushion another vari-' ployed,

In assembling the parts the attaching member 5 is forced upwardly through the slitted end of the conical projection 3 in the shell until the head 5 thereof is seated in the conical recess in the bottom of the shell. The tongues 3" yield sufiiciently to permit the passage of the shank of the attaching member but when the latter is properly entered the tongues 3 spring into and engage the groove 5", and will prevent the withdrawal of the attaching member. 1 In this wayflthe attaching member is securely but rotatably engaged with the shell.

In Fig. 1 the flange 2 is shown asprovided on its upper edge with serrations or teeth 2 whichjwill bite into the wood of the leg Land prevent the slider rotating when the screw 5 is screwed tightly into the leg. In Figs. 2 to 8 the upper edge of the flange Zis inturned as at2", so that the flangeis concavo-convex in cross section. In Fig. 4 a cushion {t of rubber or otherresilient material is pressed on the shank of the pintle 5 which when. the slider is attached to the leg, forms a cushion between the lower end of the leg and the shell A 1. In Fig. 5 an annular cushion 4 of larger diameter is placed in the shell around the cone and will form a resilient cushion between the shell and the leg. In Fig. 6 an annular cushion 4 of suitable material is fitted within the flange 2 andv around the protuberance 3 and willform a cushion between the shell and'the leg when the slider is'applied thereto. In Figs. 8 and 9 an annular cushioning member 4 provided with a conical opening 4 larger at bottom'than at top is fitted within the shell and nearly fills the same. a

In the construction shown in Figs. 10 and 11 the shell is provided with openings-1 in its bottom and the rubber cushion 4 fills the shell and projects above the edge thereofand partly projects through the openings l the projectmg portions 4 contacting with the surface upon which the slider rests. InFigs. 12 and 13 the shell is provided with a series of circular openingsl in its bottom through which the cushion P partially projects as indicated at 4". The constructionshown in Figs. 10 to 13 are particularly useful in schools where a noiseless slider is desired. In these constructions the projections extend'below the shell, and the latter keeps the rubber from spreading. If an all rubber tip was used it would go to pieces, whereas, the metal shell protects the rubber and if the projections wear down to the shell the slider could still be used onthe chairs. If no rubber inserts or cushions are emasin Fig. 1 then when theslider is attached to the chair the shell should be screwed up tightly against the leg. 1 The rubber cushions are made somewhat higher than the shell so that after the slider is fastened to the chair the cushion will project somewhat above the shell. In other words, the cushion is made somewhat higher and there is only a certain portion of same which will take up the contraction, therefore, there will be rubber between the chair and shell when it is applied so that the leg L does not rest upon the edge of the shell but is supported; by the cushioning member. By having the large hole in the rubber cushion so that when the slider is fastened to the chair by means of the screw, the rubber will tend to press inwardly towards the screw and not over the metal shell... i

The slider can be'readily fastened to the leg of a chair by simply screwing the threaded shank of the attaching member into the lower end of the leg until the top of the flange 2, or cushion therein, of the shell engages thelower end of the leg. j I

The loose connection between the attaching member and the shell permits a slight tilting or rocking movement ofthe attaching member in the shell and also a slight axlal movement, as well as rotation of the attaching member in the shell, and when the rubber members as shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, .10 and 12 are'usedthe members form resilient cushions between the leg and shell.

The loose connection afforded by the tongues engaging-the groove prevents the dropping of the attaching member out of the shell, and should the attaching member loosen in the leg it could not drop through the shell and its head could not contact with the surface on wh ch the slider. rests. In the construct ons in which the cushioning member fits tightly around the attaching member it will also prevent dropping of the attaching member in the shell.

"I claim: 7 1. A slider comprising a shell having a central recess on its underside and spring tongues at theupper end of the recess, and an attaching member extending through the recess and'having a head seated in the recess and a groove engaged by'said tongues.

2. A slider comprising a shell provided with a plurality of openings in its bottom, an attaching member connected with the shell, and a resilient cushioning member in the shell partly projecting through the said open1ngs.

3. A slider comprising a shell having openings in its bottom, a central recess on its underside and spring tongues at the upper end of the recess, an attaching member extending through the recess and having a head seated in the recess and a groove engaged by said tongues, and an annular cushioning member in the shell projecting through the openings.

4. A slider comprising a shell having a central conical projection forming a recess on its underside and spring tongues at the upper end of said projection, an attaching member extending through the recess and having a head seated in the recess and an annular groove engaged by said tongues.

5. A slider of the character specified comprising a shell having openings in its bottom and a central conical projection forming a recess on its underside and spring tongues at the upper end of said projection, an attaching member extending through the recess and having a head seated in the recess and an annular groove engaged by said tongues; and an annular cushioning member in the shell projecting above the shell and through the openings.

CLIFFORD A. SCHACHT. 

